December 15, 2020

Contact: Alonna Dray, Communications Director

adray@artscouncilokc.com | Main: (405) 270-4848, Direct: (405) 270-4896
For Immediate Release

FRESH PAINT: OKC NYE Premieres During Opening Night

New to Arts Council OKC’s Opening Night virtual New Year’s Eve Celebration, is FRESH PAINT:
OKC NYE mural project and competition. FRESH PAINT: OKC NYE, presented by the Oklahoma City
Thunder, is a collaborative project to promote aspiring young artists in the BIPOC (black, indigenous,
and people of color) community. Five artists, ages 18-25, are selected to premiere their murals during
ACOKC’s Opening Night broadcast on December 31st, 2020.

“As we began to plan Opening Night 2021, we knew that it was going to be a different year for the
event,” says Seth Lewis, Projects Director, ACOKC. “Working with the Oklahoma City Thunder, we
saw an opportunity to create a mural project that showcased the young and upcoming artists in our
community and pairing them with local professional artists to increase further our mission of bringing
the arts and the community together.”

Anthony Brock, Jasmine Jones, Shakurah Maynard, Jessie Kay Shelton, and Verdean Thompson are this
year’s selected artists and are mentored by local professional muralists, Ebony Iman Dallas and Dylan
Bradway. Both mentors have full-time careers as artists, with broad art portfolios including murals,
graphic design, and commercial sales. “We wanted to provide not only exposure but a mentorship to help
guide the emerging artists in marketing and promotions as a professional artist,” says FRESH PAINT
Co-Chair Kelsey Karper, Co-Founder & Director of Logistical Creativity, Factory Obscura.

On December 28th, the murals will be exhibited outside Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark at Johnny Bench
Plaza. For Opening Night 2021, the murals will be displayed during the free online streaming production
where the community may vote on their favorite mural design.  All participating artists receive a prize
pack, and one young mural artist will win a Thunder grand prize.  “Our local community will soon learn
about these young stars and our hope is that they’ll gain knowledge and valuable skills to become our
next generation of mural celebrities creating special places throughout Oklahoma City,” says FRESH
PAINT Co-Chair Robbie Kienzle, Arts Liaison & Program Planner, Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Voting for People’s Choice begins December 28th and ends December 31st at midnight. The link to vote
will be available at www.artscouncilokc.com
Tune in to the Opening Night free live-stream broadcast on December 31st, 7:00pm-midnight. Expect to
see the virtual premiere of the murals and behind the scene footage on ACOKC Facebook page and
YouTube channel.

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